Cisco · Professional Certification · Professional
Cisco Certified Network Professional Security (CCNP Security)
Crydd Score 70
Demand Growing
Career Value High
Recognition High
CCNP Security at a glance
- Provider
- Cisco
- Credential type
- Professional Certification
- Exam required
- Yes
- Category
- Networking
- Level
- Professional
- Cost
- About $400 core exam plus about $300 concentration exam
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Time to earn
- 6–12 months
- Validity
- 3 years
- Format
- Core exam (120 minutes) plus one concentration exam (90 minutes)
- Prerequisites
- None required; CCNA-level knowledge assumed
What is CCNP Security?
The security specialisation of Cisco's professional track: firewalls, VPNs, secure access, and zero-trust designs on Cisco infrastructure — which is still what a great deal of the world's networking runs on.
Skills it covers
- Network security
- Firewalls
- VPN
- Secure access
- Zero trust
Is CCNP Security worth it? The Crydd Verdict
CS 70Choose it if
You are a network engineer moving toward security, in an environment that runs Cisco hardware.
Consider alternatives if
You want vendor-neutral security — Security+ then CySA+ is a cheaper, broader path.
Why we say so
Cisco's installed base and the durable overlap between networking and security give this real, lasting weight.
Market demand
Network-security specialists remain in short supply, and Cisco equipment's entrenched position in enterprise, telecom, and government keeps its professional credentials in demand.
Where CCNP Security takes you
- Network Engineer
- Security Engineer
- Network Security Engineer
Career roadmaps show where this certification fits in each path. See the roadmaps.
Related certifications
Curated connections from the catalog — each labelled with how it relates to CCNP Security, so you know why it’s here.